Six of the best: Yorkshire Olympians

ADRIAN MOORHOUSE

When it came to swimming in the 1980s, there was one name you couldn’t avoid. Bradford-born Adrian Moorhouse dominated the sport, but it wasn’t always easy. After losing out at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 some feared his career was over, but four years later Moorhouse was back winning gold in the 100m breaststroke at Seoul. After retirement, he went into business as managing director of Lane4, a consultancy helping individuals and teams around the world reach their fullest potential. He has twice been voted Best Leader in the Sunday Times Best Small Companies to Work For.

ED CLANCY

Ed Clancy will soon need a bigger trophy cabinet. Not only is the Barnsley-born cyclist a four-time world champion and four-time European champion, but in 2008 he also won Olympic gold in the team pursuit event in Beijing. At London 2012 he successfully defended the title and just for good measure he also claimed a bronze medal in the omnium. His achievements are all the more impressive given that four years ago he thought his career might be in jeopardy after suffering a prolapsed disc in a freak accident when he went to pick up a suitcase.

ANDREW TRIGGS HODGE

The rower, who grew up near Grassington, took up the sport at university. It proved a wise move. Now 37-years-old he is a quadruple World Champion and the proud owner of two Olympic gold medals for the coxless four which he won in Beijing and London. He missed the 2015 season through illness but has made a strong comeback this year and will compete at his fourth successive Olympic Games in Rio. One of the most decorated members of the GB Rowing Team, he was awarded an MBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours list.

JESSICA ENNIS HILL

Forced to pull out of the Beijing Olympics with stress fractures on her right foot, it was feared the Sheffield athlete may never live up to her full potential. It was a difficult four years, which included having to learn how to take off from her left rather than right foot for the long jump. However, under the watchful eye of Antonio ‘Toni’ Minichiello, Ennis Hill became the poster girl of London 2012 winning gold medal in the heptathlon with a British and Commonwealth record score of 6,955. Now back after having her first child, she is hoping to defend her title in Rio.

ALISTAIR BROWNLEE

Introduced to the triathlon by his uncle, Alistair Brownlee won the Yorkshire County title on several occasions, but it was only after winning the World Junior Championships in 2006 that he began to think about the sport as a career. Along with his brother Johnny, the pair have dominated the triathlon in recent years, but more often than not it’s Alistair who has his nose in front. Now a two-time Triathlon World Champion, a two-time World Team Champion and a three time European Champion. The brothers will again go head to head in Rio.

ANITA LONSBROUGH

Before Olympians were lauded with lucrative sponsorship deals, there was Anita Lonsbrough. The York-born swimmer had to regularly clean cockroaches out of the local pool before her early morning training session and would fit in more practice in between working as a local government officer. After winning gold in the 1960 Rome Olympics, four years later she was the first female flag bearer for Great Britain in Tokyo. She was also the first woman to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1962 after winning a hat trick of gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.